Harnessing the Power of Images

Keith R · #1 07-16-2008, 08:14 PM

One thing I have always thought would help the goal of promoting environmental protection and sustainable development more in the DR would be to get more photos that say what a 1000 words cannot say -- both for showing what's worth protecting (mountainsides, forests, rivers, reefs, national parks, wildlife, etc.),

as well as the problems (litter, untreated sewage, mining scars, deforestation, erosion, etc.).

Seeing Skippy's recent pics of the river blocked by plastic waste,

the great reaction everyone gave to John Evan's & Curt's fruit and animal pics,

Reese's plant pics and Big Bird's Jarabacoa pics, and gathering some pics of what the last round of major forest fires did, all brought me back to this idea.

How best to tap it to greatest impact?

Photo contests, maybe? If so, general or thematic? On the discussion board, or in the GT blog? Or somewhere else?

Also, there's this terrific nature photographer living in SD named Pedro Genaro Rodríguez. Here's his blog with pics: CrÃ³nicas de los Minutos que ya pasaron...
I was thinking about approaching him, asking if he would like to work with us somehow -- cross-posting his pics to the Environment Forum and/or GT blog, and us sending him more traffic. I think if more and more people appreciated all the natural beauty in the DR, they might get motivated more to help protect it. Especially since some of these animals are on the endangered lists. Whatcha think?

Maybe there are more such guys out there we can ally with....

How about some ideas folks!

Keith R · #2 07-16-2008, 11:59 PM

Well, AlaninDR volunteered to get the ball rolling with a Green Team blog entry on his own take on what it means to "take a walk" in the DR countryside:

"Come Hike With Me"

tht · #3 07-17-2008, 08:20 PM

I just uploaded some random underwater pix from a dive I did this morning and one yesterday morning. These are from a reef on the south coast, the top of this reef is at 26 m and it's going down to 47 m. Because of the depth this reef is still pretty much in good condition, no damage due to hurricanes and no divers with speargun. I put the watermarks on to avoid shoplifting on flickr, will remove them if someone want to use the pix (or any other underwater pix I might have) for environmental issues. All colors are natural, just occasionally adjusted the brightness. And BTW all the NEF files are on my laptop.

tht2007's latest slideshow on Flickr

Keith R · #4 07-17-2008, 08:32 PM

great pics, tht! Would love to show them on the Green Team blog, even with watermarks if that makes you more comfortable. Would you be okay with that? Also. is it possible to have a better fix on which reef? Are these off Boca, or Catalina, or...

tht · #5 07-17-2008, 08:53 PM

Keith.. I just sent you a PM with the coordinates. Feel free to use the pix on the blog. If you for any reason want to print them I can remove the watermarks and email the jpeg files.

Keith R · #6 07-17-2008, 09:08 PM

Great! You could leave watermarks on, or we can add a copyright message "(c) 2008 your real name" whatever level of protection you wish -- I believe in giving credit & protection where it's due. I'll PM you the email address to send the jpegs to. Thanks so much!

This, guys and gals, is the type of thing I'm talking about! Getting psyched now! Anyone else have some pics they think would fit the bill?

Keith R · #7 07-19-2008, 01:53 AM

okay, tht's reef photos are now on the Green Team blog:

"The Beauty of the DR's Southern Reefs"

C'mon guys, with so many of you running around the DR with your cameras, surely more of you have some digi-photos of either what's worth protecting or what needs to be addressed....

Grandma Jen · #8 07-19-2008, 12:04 PM

Great stuff here - I am a firm believer that this sort of reform and protection of the environment has to start at grass roots - I volunteer at a local school and one of my main projects starting in September will be Environment, Composting, and general polite manners (ie not just throwing rubbish anywhere)
If anyone has anything we can use in school please PM me - any ideas very welcome
Thanks in advance

Keith R · #9 08-08-2008, 12:10 PM

Thor has kindly offered some more stunning reef pictures, and they are now posted on the Green Team blog:

"More of the Beauty of the DR's Southern Coral Reefs"

I appreciate Thor stepping up to the plate not once, but twice. AlaninDR has done so as well, with photos of a hike in the countryside.

Surely we have more than just two photographers (whether amateur or pro) in the DR1 who have photos they can share of the DR's natural beauty, or its environmental problems that need addressing? C'mon folks!

sokitoumi · #10 08-08-2008, 12:17 PM

maingirl and j d sauser had some good photographs in the flickr thread perhaps they need encouragement and a theme to work to -then pic one photo for each month to display in a permanent thread.

It seemed a good idea at the time ...lol